Local firefighters eager to help with Motts Trot

Firefighters in Madison Township are hoping to honor their fallen comrades by raising funds for a permanent building to showcase the extensive collection of 9/11 artifacts currently in storage at Groveport's Motts Military Museum.

Madison Township Firefighters IAFF Local 2507 is sponsoring the first Motts Trot 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk to help raise funds for the new museum building.

The event will be held at 9 a.m., Sept. 15, at Three Creeks Metro Park, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport.

The not-for-profit museum was established in 1987 by Groveport resident Warren Motts who, since the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, says he has acquired the largest collection of 9/11 artifacts outside of New York.

Last fall, the Motts Military Museum added its largest piece to that collection, the 41-foot hook and ladder fire engine that had been crushed at the base of the fallen World Trade Center towers.

Motts has since been soliciting donations to build a $500,000 addition to the museum to house the artifacts.

Firefighter and 5K organizer Ron Greene said he and his fellow firefighters wanted to help Motts achieve his goal.

"This is really an opportunity to get involved in the community outside of our normal duties, which keep us so busy that we often can't do things like this," Greene said.

"Three-hundred-forty-three firefighters died that day, so it's really important to us to commemorate that loss," he said.

According to Greene, all race proceeds will be donated to the Motts Museum.

He said the event is set up to allow for family participation with the one-mile walk and the display of a fire truck in addition to the more competitive 5K run.

Early registration is $25 per person, available online at www.ultrafit-usa.com under the events page. The registration fee after Sept. 12 will be $30 per person.

"This has been a lot of work to pull together, but I'm sure we'll have a good crew of firefighters out that day, as well as participants," Greene said.